Introducing Intern, Kathleen Mannard

My name is Kathleen Mannard, and I am a spring intern for NewPeople as a writer for the environmental justice column. I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Anthropology and minors in History, Legal Studies and a certificate in Public and Professional Writing. I have known about the Thomas Merton Center for years and jumped at the opportunity to be a writer for its newspaper. My interest for environmental justice developed when I began college and joined my pre-law organization Phi Alpha Delta. I aspire to be a lawyer because law ties together my passions for the study of history and the practice of justices. Through my internship, I wish to incorporate my love of service with insight on the differences environmental justice creates. I hope to examine how average citizens can contribute to the environment simply through the spread of knowledge and action.

This past Monday was the national service day, Martin Luther King Day. With other members of my pre-law organization, I participated in the care-taking of my community. A beautiful and successful community encompasses people, commonalities, and camaraderie, but the well being of the environment requires dedication for a sustainable life and future. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’. To care for others in our community, we need to care for our environment on a local and global scale. So ask yourself this week: what you are doing for others in your local community, the community at large, and how you can benefit your environment to build a stronger, durable and beautiful community?

#environmentaljustice #blog